Highlights

• Guest - Mike Shuster - President Wilson’s response to Germany’s U-Boat campaign
  
  
• Announcement - Commissioner John “Jack”  D. Monahan sworn in
  
  
• Guest - Philip Sneed, chair of the Colorado WW1 Centennial steering committee
  
  
• Post - 100C/100M WW1 memorial restoration project on Governors Island in New York
  
  
• Article - Commissioner Monique Seefried on the April 6th significance
  
  
• Article - Robert Laplander 3rd edition of book “Finding the Lost Battalion” and “Doughboy MIA” site
  
  

WW1 Centennial News - Weekly Podcast

World War One Centennial News:
March 1st 2017

World War One THEN

100 Year Ago This Week

British Expeditionary Force to Carry Out French Orders
After months of ongoing carnage at the Somme, Prime Minister Lloyd George had become dissatisfied with Douglas Haig’s performance.  He was, however, impressed by the French commander, General Nivelle, who promised to break through the German lines with a swift offensive. On February 27th, George proposed that all Allied armies in France be placed under Neville's command. Follow the link in the chatroom to find out how the British generals reacted.
Link: http://today-in-wwi.tumblr.com/post/157795523243/british-expeditionary-force-to-carry-out-french

Great War Project

But the big story this week 100 years ago is President Wilson’s response to Germany’s U-Boat campaign. And this is the story of Mike Shuster’s post this week. Welcome Mike.
LINK: www.greatwarproject.org/

War in the Sky

One hundred year ago this week the story of the Great War In The Sky involves Navy Lt. Kenneth Whitting. It was this week 100 years ago that he proposed to United States Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels that the Navy acquire a ship with an aircraft catapult and a flight deck, prompting the first serious U.S. Navy consideration of such an acquisition. Whitting was a visionary who had started even a year prior in 1916, to campaign for the U.S. Navy development of what were then called "plane carriers".
He was always a visionary - who started his naval career as a pioneer in submarines - but in 1914 his request to become an aviator was granted and he reported to the Wright Company in Dayton Ohio to learn to fly. In fact he was the last naval officer to take flight training from Orville Wright personally.
Alright so in March he proposed the first sort-of aircraft carrier, in April American declares war, in May Whitting is selected to command the 1st Naval Air Unit. He, seven officers and 122 enlisted men board ships to cross the Atlantic to France becoming the first officers and men of the regular fighting forces of the United States to land in France...
As reported on June 8 in the OFFICIAL BULLETIN - Published Daily under order of the President by the committee for public information (the official US war bulletin)
What about that carrier proposal?
Well - 2 weeks after he and his men arrive in France the Navy rejected the idea - and Whitting had to wait until 1922 when he was made commanding officer of the US's first actual aircraft carrier the CV-1 USN Langley. But that quest began 100 years ago this week for the Great War in The sky.

LINK:
http://ww1cc.org/warinthesky

https://books.google.com/books?id=6UfmAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA193&lpg=PA193&dq=United+States+Navy+Lt+Kenneth+Whiting&source=bl&ots=69ZbLKo_LI&sig=KqoJz_lVkRIiRyrOxRyOaTJUWS0&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiEnsf5xLTSAhWCRCYKHaNBAAwQ6AEIWTAO#v=onepage&q=United%20States%20Navy%20Lt%20Kenneth%20Whiting&f=false

The Great War Channel

This week on the Great War Channel, they have three new episodes.

1. Outbreak of World War 1 - A Banker's Perspective
2. Out of The Trenches segment including the DISC Grenade
3. Mechanised War In Mesopotamia - Toplica Uprising

Link:
https://www.youtube.com/user/TheGreatWar

World War One NOW

Commission News

John “Jack”  D. Monahan sworn in
Washington, DC - This week, John “Jack”  D. Monahan of Essex, Connecticut was sworn in as Commissioner to the United States World War One Centennial Commission, during the American Legion’s Legislative Mid-winter Conference held in Washington, DC. He was appointed to this position by the American Legion. He has served the Legion in the past as commander of La Place-Champlin American Legion Post 18 in Essex, Conn. and in various post, state and national levels. This is breaking news so we don’t have a link for you.
The commission had a busy first part of the week -- starting on Sunday, Susan Mennenga (mennen gay) Pritzker Military Museum and Library and WWICC Project Officer spoke to the Veterans Committee of the National Association of Counties about the WW1 poppy program and 100 Cities. And then on Monday Susan and I were off to participate on a panel discussion with Dole Foundation and Purple Hearts Reunited at the annual American Legion Auxiliary Midwinter Legislative Conference, also in DC.  

Activities and Events

In our activities & events this week we highlight
Link: http://www.worldwar1centennial.org/index.php/commemorate/event-map-system/eventsbyyear/2017.html

San Diego and the Great War:1914-1919
Dates: Friday, March 03, 2017 08:30am - 05:00pm
The Congress of History of San Diego & Imperial Counties and the San Diego Veterans Museum at Balboa Park are co-sponsoring a two-day conference commemorating the role the greater San Diego region played during the war. Speakers will discuss how the war and its aftermath were the catalysts that contributed to the region's development into a major modern U.S. naval base.
Contact: alexdbevil@yahoo.com
San Diego Veterans Museum at Balboa Park
San Diego, CA
Link: http://www.veteranmuseum.org/

Festival Celebrating Arkansas Women's Contributions/Experiences during World War I
Dates: Saturday, March 04, 2017 10:00am - 02:00pm
Festival Celebrating Arkansas Women's Contributions/Experiences during World War I Brought to you by: AWHI Women's History Month Event Using booths, living history vignettes, presentations, and children's activities, the festival will be for the whole family and will provide an educational emphasis showcasing women's contributions and experiences during World War I.  This event is free and open to the public.
Contact: contactawhi@gmail.com
MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History
Little Rock, AR
Link: http://www.nwaonline.com/news/2017/feb/28/events-to-mark-wwi-centennial-20170228/?news-arkansas

World War 1 and the Red Cross: Lunch and Learn with Dr. Julia F. Irwin
at the Florida Historic Capitol Museum, Tallahassee, Florida
Dates: Thursday, March 09, 2017 11:30am - 01:00pm
In celebration of American Red Cross Month, historian and author Julia Irwin speaks about the importance of the Red Cross during World War I. Dr. Irwin will sign copies of her acclaimed book Making the World Safe: The American Red Cross and a Nation’s Humanitarian Awakening. Free program; bring your own lunch or purchase one ($5 for Museum members / $10 for non-members). Please reserve your spot and let us know if you would like a lunch by signing up at https://wwimar9.eventbrite.com. Contact: Barton.lisa@flhistoriccapitol.gov
For more information, please visit their website.
Link: http://www.flhistoriccapitol.gov/

Updates From The States

Alabama
The Alabama commission has made an interesting announcement on their site. The Alabama Department of Archives and History has made approximately 100 World War I posters available online in its digital archives. These colorful, striking graphics and their fascinating patriotic symbolism can now be appreciated by anyone with an internet connection. Copies of the posters can also be downloaded at no charge from the site. This is great news not just for the people of Alabama but the entire World War One commemoration community. Follow the link to see what they have to offer.
Link: http://www.worldwar1centennial.org/index.php/alabama-wwi-blog.html

Colorado
Last week, we announced that the Colorado state commission’s website went live. This week, we are joined by Philip Sneed, the Executive Director at the Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities and the chair of the Colorado WW1 Centennial  steering committee.
Link: http://ww1cc.org/co

International Report

Tunnel network reveals how First World War sappers battled beneath the Western Front as their comrades fought in the trenches above
We have a headline out of the UK that reads: Tunnel network reveals how First World War sappers battled beneath the Western Front as their comrades fought in the trenches above. There is a new book out called “Beneath the Killing Fields,” by Matthew Leonard. This book documents the lives of special engineering soldiers known as Sappers. Sappers were mainly former coal miners drafted in from the pits. This article has some really interesting images of the tunnels, the diggers, and what remains today. We encourage you to check it out.
Link: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4248972/Tunnels-reveal-World-War-sappers-underground-battle.html

Posts and Articles

Commissioner Monique Seefried on the April 6th
We have an interview posted on our site with Commissioner Monique Seefried about the upcoming April 6th event. She has been a regular lecturer on World War I, its causes and its consequences. She talks with us about the event, the significance of the Centennial of WW1, and why the decision by the U.S. to enter the war is so important to commemorate.
Link: http://www.worldwar1centennial.org/index.php/communicate/press-media/wwi-centennial-news/1952-four-questions-for-monique-seefried-about-april-6-2017.html

Robert Laplander on his book “Finding the Lost Battalion” and “Doughboy MIA”
Next, we have an interview featuring historian and author Robert Laplander. Robert is working on a new book about the Lost Battalion’s unit Commander, Charles Whittlesey. He has been involved with the highly-anticipated PBS/American Experience series THE GREAT WAR. In addition to all that, Robert has been researching for his "Doughboy MIA" section of the WW1 Centennial Commission web site. Follow the link to see more of what this author has been up to.
Link: http://www.worldwar1centennial.org/index.php/communicate/press-media/wwi-centennial-news/1953-four-questions-for-bob-laplander-of-finding-the-lost-battalion-and-doughboy-mia.html

100 Cities / 100 Memorials Blog
On 100 cities 100 memorials this week, learn about Kevin Fitzpatrick's WW1 memorial restoration project on Governors Island in New York. Kevin, a highly active WW1 commemoration advocate, submitted the grant application to the 100 cities 100 memorial program. We are proud to shine a light on his fantastic efforts. The link to his post is in the chatroom. Check it out.
Link: http://www.worldwar1centennial.org/index.php/100-cities-100-memorials-blog/115-governor-s-island-ny-memorial-project-submitted-to-100c-100m.html

WWrite Blog
On our WWrite blog we have a post where Actor/Writer Darryl Dillard talks about the Great War's Influence for Black Male Actors Today. When the nation joined the war,  blacks volunteered in droves to prove loyalty to the country and gain respect. They fought not only their enemies, but also centuries of negative stereotypes that had become commonplace in American media. This one is a good read so don’t miss it.
Link: http://www.worldwar1centennial.org/index.php/articles-posts/1950-the-great-war-s-far-reaching-influence-for-black-male-actors-today.html

Stories of Service
Our last post comes from our stories of service section. This week, there is a short post on David Gaines Gentry, Jr.  David, like so many other young men of the time, had never ventured from his hometown. But when the call to arms came, he took up a cause greater than himself, and traveled across the globe to fight for it. Take a moment to read about this brave man by clicking on the link in the chatroom.
Link: http://www.worldwar1centennial.org/index.php/commemorate/family-ties/stories-of-service/1795-david-gaines-gentry-jr.html

The Buzz

Moving on, let’s see what was going in the world of social media this week. We have Kathy Akey with us again, Kathy, what’s going on our social media conversation wall?

http://ww1cc.org/social

That’s it for today. Thank you for taking time out of your busy day!
WW1 Centennial News is brought to you by the US WW1 Centennial Commission and the commission’s founding sponsor the Pritzker Military Museum and Library. The videos can be found at ww1cc.org/cn. Don’t forget to sign up for our  eNewsletter the Weekly DISPATCH.
Our twitter and instagram handles are both @ww1cc and we are on facebook @ww1centennial.
Thanks for joining us. and….
Don’t forget to commemorate!
So long.

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